Sport Pilot Talk

Paul Hamilton · Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 351 Location: Reno/Tahoe Nevada

I teach in a S-LSA Zodiac 601 which the NTSB has accused of having a flutter problem resulting in wings folding in flight.

http://www.ntsb.gov/recs/letters/2009/A09_30_37.pdf

I am very concerned. It is said that it is only the E-LSA that experience this with loose aileron cables. S-LSA properly maintaied with proper cable tension is not a problem.

http://www.newplane.com/Service_Letters_Bulletines/SAFETY_ALERT_october_29_2008.pdf

Is there any independent resource who is covering this issue?

Does anyone have any solid data for this?

Daidalos · Joined: 12 Feb 2009 Posts: 132 Location: KHWV

If you are an AOPA member check out their forums. There is a very long thread on this topic.

Forums.aopa.org

Paul Hamilton · Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 351 Location: Reno/Tahoe Nevada

Thanks, That is quite a long thread that somehow got off topic much of the time but overall helpful.

I did talk with the AMD factory today on the phone and they are looking into this with some testing and will provide some response as soon as they can.

I am headed for Sun N Fun so I will be anxious to hear more.

Thanks again. I will try to update this subject when I know more.

CTflyer · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:28 am Post subject:

Found this interesting:

http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2009/090415Zenair.html

"The NTSB listed the fatal breakups in its report: On Feb. 8, 2006, near Oakdale, Calif., a CH-601XL crashed after its wings collapsed (two fatalities). On Nov. 4, 2006, a CH-601XL broke up in flight while cruising near Yuba City, Calif. (two fatalities). On Feb. 5, 2008, a CH-601XL crashed near Barcelona, Spain, after its wings folded up during a descent shortly before landing (two fatalities). On April 7, 2008, a CH-601XL broke up in flight near Polk City, Fla. (one fatality). On Sept. 14, 2008, a CH 601XL crashed in the Netherlands (two fatalities). On March 3 this year, a CH-601XL broke up in flight while cruising near Antelope Island, Utah (one fatality)."

...

"Sebastien Heintz, president of Zenith Aircraft in Mexico, Mo., said he was surprised by the NTSB letter. Zenith Aircraft makes a kit model of the CH-601XL that is similar in many respects to the light sport model.

“We want to seriously look at all the NTSB concerns and address them individually. For quite some time we have looked at issues relating to flutter and it does not seem to be an issue if the aircraft is maintained properly,” Heintz said. Heintz is the son of the founder of the company, Chris Heintz. The light sport models of the CH-601XL are built by Aircraft Manufacturing and Design (AMD) in Georgia."

CharlieTango · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 9:37 am Post subject:

that's 10 fatalities and 6 aircraft.

quite a coincidence that one of the few designs that favor the continental O-200, which leads to the omission of a recovery system due to heavier motor just happens to be the design that has a number of catastrophic failures.

KSCessnaDriver · Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 158 Location: KOJC

Plus, IIRC, more than half of those crashes weren't the S-LSA model of the aircraft. The European models were E-LSA with the kits supplied by CZAW. Seems to me that the NTSB is really jumping the gun here, and trying to get the cart way out in front of the horse. Do some study, get some hard evidence (Most of the crashes aren't straight and level flight, but rather hard maneuvering). Prove to us its actually a flutter, but not just the aircraft failing when it should, by design standards.

CTflyer · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:49 pm Post subject:

New Zealand issues restrictions on the Zenair CH601 Series:

"The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand has issued a Continuing Airworthiness Notice regarding the Zenith and Zenair CH601 series, "in the interests of aviation safety."

Continuing Airworthiness Notices (CAN) are intended to alert, educate, and make recommendations to the aviation community. A CAN contains non-regulatory information and guidance that does not meet the criteria for an Airworthiness Directive (AD). The inspections and practices described in this CAN must still be carried out in accordance with the applicable NZCAR Parts 21, 43 and 91. CAA's CANs are ADVISORY ONLY and are NOT MANDATORY."

Taken from today's frontpage at:
http://www.aero-news.net/